Avoiding Election Infection

In this episode of Church Nerds United, we bring you a timely message from Andy Stanley, titled "Avoiding Election Infection." As we enter a season filled with political discourse, Andy provides practical insights on how to engage in the political arena while maintaining our faith and unity as a community.

Whether you’re deeply involved in politics or prefer to stay on the sidelines, this episode is designed to encourage you to navigate election season with grace and purpose. Join us as we explore how to focus on what truly matters and keep our hearts aligned with the teachings of Christ.

Subscribe for more inspiring messages, and don’t forget to share this episode with your friends and family!

Creators & Guests

Guest

Andy Stanley

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Greater Guild Announcer: 00:03

Welcome to Church Nerds United, brought to you by The Greater Guild Church. Today, we have something special for you. A message from Andy Stanley of Northpointe Church titled Avoid Election Infection. In this recording, Andy tackles the challenges we face during election seasons and offers insightful guidance on how to engage in politics without losing our focus on faith and unity. Whether you're a seasoned voter or prefer to stay out of the political spotlight, this message is for you.

Greater Guild Announcer: 00:31

So sit back, relax, and let's dive into this important conversation together.

Andy Stanley: 00:41

So are are y'all nervous? Hey, real quick. I gotta do a little survey so everybody gets to play along and if you're watching at home, you can play along. But how many of you, if you're honest, and my hand's up on this, okay, even though this might be the minority, how many of you are actually enjoying the drama and the chaos and the tension associated with this presidential election? You kinda like it.

Andy Stanley: 01:01

Yeah. My hand's up. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think any ladies raised their hand.

Andy Stanley: 01:05

Yeah. Probably not the case. Okay. How many of you can't wait for it to be over? Yeah.

Andy Stanley: 01:11

Afraid of that. Okay. How many of you, how many of you would say, you know what, I just I just can't stand it. In fact, you might even use the word hate. I just I hate it whenever the subject of politics comes up around the dinner table or in a social gathering or with extended family.

Andy Stanley: 01:24

I just don't like it when that topic comes up. I just get nervous on the inside a little bit. How many of you just hate it? Yeah. How many of you are like me?

Andy Stanley: 01:29

You bring it up. Anybody else? You bring it up. Yeah. Yeah.

Andy Stanley: 01:32

Down here in the front. Yeah. I'm with you. It's just a lot of fun. Okay.

Andy Stanley: 01:37

How about this? How many of you have watched My hand doesn't go up on this one, unfortunately. How many of you have watched all the debates? Anybody here? You've watched every single one of the debates.

Andy Stanley: 01:46

Come on, be proud. Be an American. Yeah, there you go. You've watched all the debates. How many of you have watched at least some of the debates?

Andy Stanley: 01:52

Okay. Okay. Anybody's like, Debates? There are debates? Anybody?

Andy Stanley: 01:57

No? Okay. All right. Now, here's the most personal question. I promise I won't go any more personal.

Andy Stanley: 02:01

I'm not gonna list candidates. But how many of you have already Don't raise your hand till I finish the question. Okay. How many of you have already made up your mind who you would vote for if the person you want to vote for is actually the nominee? You've already got your sights set on somebody.

Andy Stanley: 02:16

You are Look at that. Yeah. You kinda got your minds made up. Okay. Last question maybe.

Andy Stanley: 02:22

Who who who thinks that churches and preachers in particular should stay away from all things political? Like, we shouldn't even really be talking about this. Yeah, thanks. But you came anyway, right? Anybody here?

Andy Stanley: 02:35

You almost didn't come, but you just made yourself come. You really were just And some of you at home, you should be here, but you're not here. You just couldn't stand it and you told yourself, I'm not gonna watch that. He shouldn't be talking about that. And now you're watching because you were just so curious.

Andy Stanley: 02:47

So we're glad. So here's what I wanna do today. I want to issue a corporate challenge to all of the, attenders, participants. If you call any one of our churches church home, maybe one of our churches in Florida, maybe down there at Citrus Point in Tampa, Athens, you know, in Alabama. Wherever you are, where you're part of one of our our local churches, I wanna issue a challenge today to you that I think you're up for.

Andy Stanley: 03:09

I don't think most Christians are, by the way, but I think we're a peculiar group of people. You're super mature. You're super astute when it comes to politics and just what's going on in the country and the world in general. You're incredible people. So most I don't think most Christians could pull this off, but I think you can.

Andy Stanley: 03:23

So I'm gonna offer this challenge, see if you're up for it. And by the way, if you're not a Christian, this is the perfect Sunday for you to be watching or to be participating in one of our churches because in just a minute, we're gonna look at something Jesus said that you agree with. Even if you're not a Jesus follower, you agree with this. In fact, some of you, you have heard this before, you have said it before, you didn't know it originated with Jesus, so that's gonna be fascinating. So there's a lot of common ground, but my challenge isn't to everybody, although everybody can certainly play.

Andy Stanley: 03:50

But my challenge is to those of you who are Christians, what I wanna challenge you to do is I wanna challenge you between now November 8th to put your faith ahead of your politics. To put your faith before your politics. In other words, to put your faith filter upfront and your political filter somewhere down the line after that. To be a Christ follower first and a republican second. To be a Christ follower first and to be a democrat second.

Andy Stanley: 04:19

To be a Christ follower first and a libertarian or an independent second. Now, whatever your political views, would you subjugate or would you submit or would you place your political views below your faith values or your Christian values? Because let's face it, if for no other reason, nobody goes to Washington DC when they die. I mean, that's just reason enough, right? That at some point Here's the thing.

Andy Stanley: 04:42

Because you're gonna find this hard to do and you're gonna think, Oh, there's no way I can do that. But let me tell you, I know you can do it, okay? Here's how I know. Because there's something that could happen in your life that would make your political persuasion completely irrelevant. I mean, I've walked with people through very, very difficult things.

Andy Stanley: 04:56

Every pastor has. Many of you have walked with friends through stuff. I've never been at the bedside with someone in a hospital or in their room and they say to me, Andy, would you please just read to me portions of the constitution? Okay? So as important as this is and as amped up as you can get about political things, at the end of the day, you know intuitively and you know in your heart and you know through your lifestyle and experience, there are more important things.

Andy Stanley: 05:18

And at the end of the day, your faith really is more important. So what I'm challenging you to do, even though I don't think the average Christian could pull this off, I'm challenging you between now November 8th to put your faith ahead of your politics. Now, here's what I'm not saying so that you don't leave or shut us off too early. I'm not saying don't have an opinion. You should have an opinion.

Andy Stanley: 05:37

In fact, Sandra says, I have an opinion about everything. And I said to her, I thought everybody had an opinion about everything. She said, No, most people are just fine not to have an opinion about everything. So I'm okay with you having an opinion about this. It's okay for you men to continue to yell at the television.

Andy Stanley: 05:52

You just go right ahead and do that. I'm not suggesting you stop doing that. Men, maybe you get the remote and mute and explain to your family what they should have said and then you can narrate through all the news and the commentary and the debates. I don't know how you do that. You can keep doing that.

Andy Stanley: 06:06

I'm not suggesting that we should or that we will all agree. That would be foolish. And I'm not suggesting that all Christians should vote for any particular candidate or that all Christians should lean into one party. All I'm saying is that we I'm challenging you to put your faith, your convictions, your faith ahead of your politics. Now, for many of you, you're sitting here and you're going, I'm so glad you're talking about this because there's other people.

Andy Stanley: 06:32

Everybody here, you pretty much think you have this down. In fact, all of us don't see Very few of us see any conflict between faith and politics. In fact, you would argue, Andy, the reason I'm a Republican is because I'm a Christian. Or Andy, the reason I'm a Democrat is my faith. My faith is the primary filter.

Andy Stanley: 06:50

It's the reason I decided to leave a particular party and go to a different party. I mean, I got this down. So I'm glad you're talking about it because all these other people need to hear this. But I mean, yeah, duh. I mean, I got it.

Andy Stanley: 07:02

It is why I mean, my faith and my politics are synonymous. There is no space between those. If you're a republican, good grief of Of course you got your faith first. God is always right and Jesus was always right. So of course, Jesus and God are Republicans because you're right and they're right and everything goes right.

Andy Stanley: 07:27

Do we even need to talk about this? Right? And then there's that whole thing in the New Testament. There's evidence in the Bible where Jesus called Matthew to be his follower. And one of the other words for tax collector is a publican, like republicans.

Andy Stanley: 07:42

It's almost right there in the Bible. And if that wasn't enough, when Jesus got to Matthew's house and all the Pharisees were all disturbed that Jesus was hanging out with the publicans, Jesus makes this statement and it's right there in the text. Here's what he said. He said, It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Follow this.

Andy Stanley: 08:01

I haven't come to call the righteous because the righteous are fine. I have come to call the sinners to repentance. So I mean, Andy, there it is. There's the people on the right and then there are the sinners. So I'm on the right and I'm a republican and everybody else are the sinners, so I'm with you.

Andy Stanley: 08:17

My faith and my politics there completely lined up together. And if you're a democrat, you're going, are you kidding me? Jesus, come on. Jesus was a health care dispensing machine. Everywhere he went, he dispensed healthcare for free people lined up for hours.

Andy Stanley: 08:34

He never turned anybody away and didn't charge anything. I mean, can we get more obvious? He got one some little silly verse, but I mean, the whole Jesus' whole ministry was about that. Plus, Jesus was always getting on the case of rich people. In fact, he even said rich people aren't going to heaven because they're gonna poke themselves in the eye with a needle or something.

Andy Stanley: 08:50

I can't remember what it is. But anyway, and, and, and, and that whole thing. Jesus was always He gave away food at least on 2 occasions. So I mean, we know I mean, you look at democratic values. I mean, Jesus was clearly democrat and there is a clue in the text.

Andy Stanley: 09:04

I mean, after Jesus fed the 5,000, remember? They collected all that extra food and here's what the text says. Look at this. They all ate and were satisfied and afterward the disciples picked up 7 baskets full of broken pieces that were left over. It is in the text.

Andy Stanley: 09:20

It's buried in there, but anybody with eyes can see this, right? If you're libertarian, you're going, really? Really? I mean, the most famous verse in the New Testament is John 3 16, but the second most famous verse is the one that every political candidate quotes at some point. It's the most politically charged verse and nobody gets it right, but the libertarians.

Andy Stanley: 09:40

And you can finish it, fill in the blank. And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you Free. There you go, as in liberated. Duh, I mean there it is, it's right there. Not to mention there was this incident one time with a rich young ruler and Jesus talked the rich young ruler and he sent the rich young ruler away and the rich young ruler was sad.

Andy Stanley: 10:00

So obviously we know what Jesus thinks about rules and rulers. And then if that wasn't enough, the apostle Paul, who was actually talking to Christians, Jesus wasn't even talking to Christians, the apostle Paul, when he wrote his letter to the Thessalonicans, 1st Thessalonians, he said this. How much clearer can we get? He said, Work hard with your own hands and mind your own business. It's in the Bible.

Andy Stanley: 10:22

Mind your own business. We should mind our own business individually. We should mind our own business nationally. God's clearly leaning toward libertarians, right? Have I offended everyone?

Andy Stanley: 10:33

Have I left anybody out? So the point is this, when it comes to putting your faith before your politics, when it comes to putting your faith before your politics, it's not enough to say, Well, Bible first and politics second. That doesn't work. Because no matter where you stand politically, no matter where you stand politically, you can find something in the Bible that supports your stand. That no matter where you stand politically, you can find something in the Bible that supports where you stand.

Andy Stanley: 11:03

And this is the surprise, it's not enough to say, well, Jesus first, political party second. Because no matter where you stand, you can find something that Jesus said that supports where you stand. And the interesting thing is this, when it comes to political season, we all want Jesus on our side if we're Christians. But when you read the gospels, Jesus did not come to be on anyone's side. He didn't come to take sides.

Andy Stanley: 11:26

He came to take over. Yet, as for some reason, when it comes to political season, we're all trying to reel Jesus in to support our political view. But simply trying to find something that Jesus said to support what you believe politically is not enough and simply putting Jesus before politics isn't enough. For us to get this right, and we can get this right, for us to get this right, and we must get this right, and for us to get this right, and we have the opportunity in the next few months to get this right. This requires more than reading what the Bible says and it requires more than even reading what Jesus said.

Andy Stanley: 12:01

This requires that we actually approach this topic the way that Jesus approached everything. In other words, to get this right, we actually have to do something that Jesus did. And Jesus did one thing specifically and one thing consistently that models the way for all of us And all of us can do this. This isn't complicated. You don't even have to write it down.

Andy Stanley: 12:25

It's so simple, but it's so convicting and it is so transformational. The way you keep your faith in front of your politics, the way you keep your faith filter first is by putting people first and politics second. Because Jesus was for what was best for people. It's one of the first lessons you learned when you first started attending church, that Jesus always put what was best for people first. And that's our common ground.

Andy Stanley: 12:56

That's our common ground as citizens. That's our common ground certainly as Christians and that's our common ground with our heavenly father. To kind of tease that out a little bit, we could say it this way, We can disagree, which we will and we should, we can disagree on what's best for people, but we cannot and we dare not disagree that what's best for people is what's best. That we can disagree about what's best for people. Name any bill, name anything before Congress, name any of the things that we're debating as a nation and we can debate about which side or which version is best for people, but we cannot debate whether or not what's best for people is what's best.

Andy Stanley: 13:35

Now, when you read the gospels, this is so clear. If there's a theme throughout the gospels, Jesus was for what's best for people. And we know that from the most famous verse in the New Testament, John 3 16, For God so loved the world He was for the world That he sent his son to pay the ultimate price on behalf of not the planet, not the dirt, but the people of the world. That Jesus loved people and Jesus put people first and the thing that drove Jesus crazy Read the gospels. The thing that drove Jesus crazy is when religious people would use religious law to hurt actual people.

Andy Stanley: 14:12

And Jesus would say over and over and over, You have it backwards. God did not create people for the law. God created the law for people. God did not create people for religion. God created the religion for people.

Andy Stanley: 14:27

So one day a group comes to Jesus and if you grew up in church, you're so familiar with this. You can quote this first part of this verse. They come to Jesus and this is my version of their question. They say, Jesus, tell us. I mean, you're a teacher.

Andy Stanley: 14:39

You claim to be close to God. Tell us what's most important. What's most important? And what's most important to God, but specifically Jesus? What do you think is most important?

Andy Stanley: 14:48

Now, there are a lot of important things. This is important and nothing else is important. There's so many important things, but what is the most important thing? And you remember how Jesus answered my version of this question? Here's what he said.

Andy Stanley: 15:02

And Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. But before they could breathe, as you remember, Jesus kept going. But this is great because see, there's a lot of wiggle room here, right? Because this is all internal.

Andy Stanley: 15:20

In fact, I bet if you ask every single candidate who's running for president, Hey, do you love God? The answer is yes. I mean, who's gonna say no? I mean, you have to be agnostic or atheist. But regardless, all over the world most people would say, Do you love God?

Andy Stanley: 15:31

Yeah. Do you love God with all your heart? Well, I don't know if all, but to the best of my ability, you love him with your soul? Well, I don't even know what that is, but yeah, I don't know. Do you love him with all your mind?

Andy Stanley: 15:40

I don't know what that means, but yes. Who can dispute whether somebody loves God with your heart, your soul and your mind? There's a lot of wiggle room. You can do a lot of things under this broad umbrella and Jesus doesn't even pause. The next word out of his mouth is and.

Andy Stanley: 15:56

Remember this? He says, And the second is like it. And I'm not finished. He'd say, Don't hold your question. The most important thing is love God with everything in you and The second is like it.

Andy Stanley: 16:06

The second is equivalent. The second is on the same level. The second is just as important. And you remember what he said. In fact, if you're not a church person or a Christian, you've heard this, you've said it.

Andy Stanley: 16:19

This may be the first time you've heard that Jesus said it first. Here's what he said. The second is like it, love your neighbor. Oh man, why couldn't we just stop with love God? Because I can love God on the inside, then I can treat my neighbor the way my neighbor deserves to be treated.

Andy Stanley: 16:36

In fact, I can treat my neighbor the way my neighbor treats me and I love to treat my neighbor's kids the way that he treated my I mean, suddenly it could be tit for tat and Jesus says, No. Let me tell you what's most important to me. What's most important to me is that you love God on the inside and that you demonstrate it on the outside. Well, how do we demonstrate it on the outside? By church attendance?

Andy Stanley: 16:55

No. There's wiggle room there too. You demonstrate your love for God, heart, soul, and mind, by the way you treat other people. Because what's most important to people is people. And what's most important is people.

Andy Stanley: 17:09

And we may debate what's best for people, but we dare not as Christians debate whether or not what's best is what's best for people. He continues, Love your neighbor as yourself And this is an amazing statement. For us in our modern world, we can't understand how emotional this was for Jesus' original audience when he said this. All the law, 600 plus laws in the 1st century, all the laws And not just the laws, everything the prophets said. Said.

Andy Stanley: 17:38

Have you ever tried to read through the prophets of the Old Testament? I mean, it sounds like the same thing over and over and over and over. He said, Everything in the law and everything spoken by the prophets, all the law and all the prophets hang. That is, hinge. That is, are contingent upon these 2 commandments.

Andy Stanley: 17:55

This was Jesus' way of saying this. If you forget everything else, if you forget everything else, if you're never able to open the scriptures, if you don't remember anything else I say, the most important thing in the world is love God and demonstrate your love for God. Not by the way you treat God. Too many loopholes, too much wiggle room. Demonstrate the way that you love God by how you treat the people God created.

Andy Stanley: 18:22

The way that you treat the people made in the image of God is a reflection of your true love for God. What's most important is people. If you wanna keep your politics, if you wanna keep your faith, brother, if you wanna keep faith in front of politics, you put people ahead of politics. So to use Jesus' word, we can disagree. We can disagree on what's best for our neighbors.

Andy Stanley: 18:48

We can disagree about what's best for our neighbors, but we dare not, we dare not, we dare not forget that what's best for our neighbors is really what's best. Now, that is profoundly simple, isn't it? But think about this. And you're smart people, you get this. Imagine, just imagine, let's just think really big.

Andy Stanley: 19:09

Imagine if everybody in the United States, Christian or not, because love your neighbor as yourself. I mean, every religion embraces that value, not just Christianity. Imagine this. Imagine if every single person in the United States of America decided between now November 10th between now November excuse me, 8th. Between now November 8th, if everybody in America decided between now November 8th, I am going to consistently love my neighbor as myself.

Andy Stanley: 19:35

I'm just gonna do for others what I would want others to do for me. If every single person did that, between now and the election, our nation would feel different. Most of our laws, many of our laws would be irrelevant. We can leave them on the books, but they would never be tested. Our country would be completely different.

Andy Stanley: 19:54

It almost would not matter who the president was Because what would happen in our country culturally would be so powerful because it all hinges. Jesus was right. Everything hinges on love for God on the inside and how I treat my neighbor on the outside. It would be a game changer. And that's why it is so simple, why it's so simplistic, why it's so At the same time, why it's so difficult to think in terms of placing that value ahead of my political values.

Andy Stanley: 20:28

Now, switching gears a little bit, then we're gonna come back to that. Here's just something to keep in mind because this is challenging and you're gonna sit here and go, Yeah, he's probably right. He just took all the fun out of it, but yeah, he's probably right. So here's something I just want you to think about as you think about how this looks in your life. Here's something.

Andy Stanley: 20:44

Think about this. Your behavior, and you know this, your behavior makes perfect sense to you. Right? I mean, if somebody said, Why'd you do that? You wouldn't go, I have no idea.

Andy Stanley: 20:52

Your behavior makes perfect sense to you. Your children's behavior does not make perfect sense to you, but your behavior makes perfect sense to you. Okay? Everybody's behavior makes perfect sense to him or her. Every single person you ever meet, every person you see on television, every person you hear about, every person you interact with, everybody's behavior makes sense to them.

Andy Stanley: 21:12

Okay? Second part, your political views. Isn't this true? Your political views make sense to you. I mean, if I were to say, Why would you vote for him?

Andy Stanley: 21:20

Why would you support that? Why would you march against that? Why would you be all up in arms? Why would you send everybody that article? Your political views make perfect sense to you.

Andy Stanley: 21:30

Everybody's political views. Everybody's political views make perfect sense to him or her. So here's the lesson. Christians, look up here. When you don't know how someone could do such a thing, when you don't know how someone could believe such a thing, when you don't know how somebody could support such a person, when you don't know how somebody could support such a view or support such a bill, when you don't know how in the world could they do such a thing, support such a thing, believe such a thing, it's because there's something you don't know.

Andy Stanley: 22:05

Let me say it again. When you run into, hear about, talk to someone who holds a view that you're like, how in the world could anybody believe such a thing? How could anybody support such a thing? The problem is there's something you don't know. So one of the best things you could do this political season and one of the best things you could do to help keep your faith in front of your politics is when you find yourself in one of those contentious conversations or you overhear 1 or you're starting to get an attitude or you're tempted to quit minding your own business and go over there and interject yourself, or you're beginning to lose respect for somebody.

Andy Stanley: 22:39

It's like, we might have to move. I just can't believe anybody would hold that view. Here's what I would encourage you to do. Be a student, not a critic. Because if you are a student, not a critic, you will learn something.

Andy Stanley: 22:56

And if you don't think you need to learn something, you're arrogant and you're insecure or you're God. And if you're God, you need to do hospital visitation with us, but I don't think you're God. So if there's something in you that gets so amped up, especially over political issues, especially this season of the year, if you get so amped up that you can't learn anything new, that is a you problem. That's not a political problem. This is the season to learn and the way you learn is by deciding, I will be a student first and I will be a critic second.

Andy Stanley: 23:31

For some of you that's easy. For some of us, we just need to put that on every mirror and every car and that just needs it because we just go there so quickly because we get so amped up over political things. Here's the deal. Okay? If you're a Christian, look, Jesus followers are Christians.

Andy Stanley: 23:46

Jesus followers should be the most, the most. We should be the most confident, not arrogant, confident. If you believe your eternity is all worked out, you should be confident. If you believe God knows your name, you should be confident. If you believe that you are a son or a daughter of God, regardless of where you live or what you have, there is a confidence that comes with that.

Andy Stanley: 24:07

You should be the most confident, the most curious. Listen, Christians, we should be the most curious people on the planet. We should be the learners above all learners because we believe our God. Come on, you believe this. We believe our God is a God of infinite wisdom.

Andy Stanley: 24:22

When does infinite wisdom run out? It doesn't run out. That means between now and the time that you take your last breath, you would have just begun to grasp the wisdom of God. We should be intensely, eternally curious. We should never be threatened by science.

Andy Stanley: 24:39

Anytime science rolls something out new or discovers something new or changes its mind, Christians should just say, Oh, so that's how he did it. So that's how he designed it. So that's how he created it to work. We shouldn't be threatened by science. Good grief.

Andy Stanley: 24:53

We should be the most curious and we should be the most composed because we remember what we used to be and we remember what God did in us and we remember what we didn't know and we should be the most compassionate person. We should be the most compassionate people in the room. That doesn't mean we don't have an opinion and that doesn't mean we don't have a view and that doesn't mean we don't believe in it passionately. All of that's true, but in terms of our response and in terms of our demeanor, we have an opportunity. But if you're a Christ follower, you have a responsibility and this is what we've been called to do and this is who we've been called to be.

Andy Stanley: 25:34

So to make this really, really practical, I want to give you 4 simple questions. In fact, you may not like all 4 of these or need all 4 of them, maybe just 1. But when you find yourself in one of those environments, whether it's around the dinner table with extended family or at work or in the neighborhood and suddenly politics comes up and you you feel your blood boiling or you find yourself just wanting to be so dismissive and just walk away and shake your head and roll your eyes like, What a bunch of idiots. Okay. Here are 4 questions that may keep you engaged, may cause you to learn something and perhaps will set you up for future influence.

Andy Stanley: 26:07

So here's 4 questions. I just made these up. Okay? So they may be terrible, but just to get you going. And 2 of these are questions that I ask all the time.

Andy Stanley: 26:13

The first one is simply this, is what led you to that view? What led you to that view? Let's just say this together. Ready? What led you to that view?

Andy Stanley: 26:21

Or what led you to believe that? Or what led you to this position? Or what led you to hold this position? Now, here's why this is important. Because when we get in debates, when we get in a conversation, we're basically getting the last sentence of a long discussion.

Andy Stanley: 26:33

This is my view. This is who I like. This is who I'm voting for. This is what I believe. We're getting the end.

Andy Stanley: 26:38

We're getting the caboose. But one of the best questions you can ask is, Wow, that's new or that's different. Hey, what led you? Tell me about the process. How did you come to believe this?

Andy Stanley: 26:48

And you have just invited someone to tell you part of their story. And here's what you know, this is why we don't like this question. When you discover somebody's story, it's very difficult to continue not liking a person. When you get context for a view, when you get the context for an opinion, when you get the context for somebody's persuasion, you begin to understand. And when you begin to understand, the temperature goes down in the room.

Andy Stanley: 27:12

Say, Hey, wow, that's fascinating. Or, Wow, honestly, that's kind of offensive. Or, Wow, you know what? I was Hey, I'm just curious. What led you to hold this particular view?

Andy Stanley: 27:21

Here's the second one. Have you always held this view? Have you always seen it this way? Have you always voted that way? Have you always supported that idea?

Andy Stanley: 27:27

Have you always? Have you always? Were you ever on the other side? That's a good question. Then if you wanna be a little bit snarky, this is kind of a little bit the snarky question.

Andy Stanley: 27:34

Okay? You're talking to somebody and it moves beyond policy to personality. Don't you hate this? Or maybe don't you love it? Maybe you instigate it.

Andy Stanley: 27:42

We're talking about issues and now we're talking about the person or something that goes beyond politics and you're a Christian and you do realize I know you're gonna hate this. You do realize that in the new Testament we're told not to gossip. Do you know that applies to political conversations as well? Did you know we're told to not let any unwholesome word proceed out of our mouth except such a word that word is that is good for edification that it might build other people up? Did you know that during political season, God doesn't reach you in and say, Well, we're gonna take those out until after the election and put them back in.

Andy Stanley: 28:14

So when the conversation starts getting way outside of policy, here's a great question to ask. You just say, That's interesting. Have you met him? Have you met her? Do you know him?

Andy Stanley: 28:25

Do you know her? And of course they say, No. And then you say, Oh. And then you don't say anything else. Oh.

Andy Stanley: 28:32

So you know you know Congressman Soares. You know them. Oh, I don't know them. Oh. You just shut up.

Andy Stanley: 28:38

It's like, okay. Let's get back between the guardrails. You're talking way outside of your knowledge, but I'm not going to be critical. It's just kind of a question. And then here is maybe, the one where it's going to be a little bit big for you.

Andy Stanley: 28:48

Okay. This is where you may decide you don't like me anymore. Here's a great question, a statement and a question. You know, I get most of my information from the media. How about you?

Andy Stanley: 29:01

Oh, you too. That means we are both marginally and we're both probably wrong. We are both marginally informed and the truth is neither one of us really know what we're talking about. Now, that is not a dig on the media. I tell you, all you have to do is travel to some countries where the state controls the media or the press and you will be so grateful for the United States of America.

Andy Stanley: 29:23

Okay? So that's not a dig on the media. The truth is, we all The point is most of us get all or 90% of our information from the same sources. All you know is what you're told and all I know is what I'm told. So for us to create unnecessary friction relationally around marginal information and limited information is absolutely foolish.

Andy Stanley: 29:44

So those are 4 questions to kind of bring the temperature down, to kind of find common ground with people because at the end of the day, at the end of the day, what matters most is people. So, in conclusion to this fascinating talk that you're thinking, It was like the worst sermon I ever heard in my life. In conclusion, here's what I want to say. Okay, here we go. Should you have an opinion?

Andy Stanley: 30:06

Yes, you should have an opinion. Absolutely. Should you argue your point or argue your opinion? Yes, when it's appropriate. Absolutely.

Andy Stanley: 30:14

Because other people need to learn and other people need to discover what you know that possibly they don't. Should you make a point at the expense of influence? And the answer is absolutely not. Now this is so important, okay? If you're a Christian If you're not a Christian, I think this is important for you as well, but I'm not the preacher.

Andy Stanley: 30:33

You don't have to do anything I say. But if you're a part of one of our churches, I want you to listen. Okay, look. Look up here. Jesus said that you, if you're a Jesus follower, you are the light of the world, that you are the salt of the earth, that we have been called to influence people in arenas where we think eternity is at stake.

Andy Stanley: 30:56

We have been called to influence people to help put families back together. We've been called to influence people so that they can see the world as the world is and to bring healing and restitution and to bring sons and daughters back together and husbands and wives. We have been called to do something extraordinarily important. And the only way we do that Don't miss this. The only way we do that is through influence.

Andy Stanley: 31:20

So listen to me. Never, never, never give up influence unnecessarily. Never, never give up influence unnecessarily. Don't give it up with your kids. Don't give it up with your spouse.

Andy Stanley: 31:34

Don't give it up with extended family, the people at work, the people in the neighborhood. Never ever give up influence unnecessarily. You should never ever give up influence over a political issue. Let me tell you why. Because in the United States of America that I love, and I love what I'm about to say, in the United States your opinion doesn't even count.

Andy Stanley: 31:59

It's better than that. Your vote counts. So why would you give up influence over something that doesn't even matter when you get to go and vote your conscience or vote your view that makes a difference? Why would you give up influence unnecessarily? Never ever give up influence unnecessarily and please don't give it up over something that doesn't really matter.

Andy Stanley: 32:24

In your opinion, doesn't matter. The good news is your vote does. This is huge because how tragic Some of you have a story around this. How tragic to burn a bridge of influence over something that after the election, all the temperature goes down and it kind of goes away. And then suddenly that guy at work, that lady at work, your neighbor, an extended family member, they have a need, they have a question, and they can't ask you and they can't invite you in because you've lost influence over something in the heat of the moment that seemed like a really big deal at the moment.

Andy Stanley: 33:03

But a year later, years later, you can't even really remember what the issue is. Please, please, please listen. Never give up influence unnecessarily because we as Christians have been called to influence everyone and to influence our world. And lastly, jeopardize a relationship. Never.

Andy Stanley: 33:22

You never jeopardize a relationship, especially over politics. And here's why. Because while we can disagree on what's best for people, while we can disagree on what's best for people, we can't disagree that what's best for people is what's best. So, here's the thing. During this political season between now November 8th, we have an extraordinary opportunity, think about this, as Christians to showcase our political diversity in a way that honors God who made us so diverse.

Andy Stanley: 33:59

We have an opportunity to showcase our political diversity in a way that honors God, who made us so diverse. In our community groups, in the hallways, in our churches, in our communities, and wherever else God chooses to put us. This is an opportunity. If we get this right, we'll have more influence. If we get this right, we will all learn something.

Andy Stanley: 34:23

But if we get this wrong, we will just be like every other community of Christians. We'll just be like every other church. So I want you to be intentional about putting your faith before your politics and the way you do that is by putting people first. Here's why. Because Republican, Democrat, Left or Right, you are all precious in His sight because Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Greater Guild Announcer: 35:02

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Church Nerds United. We hope you found Andy Stanley's message on avoid election infection enlightening and encouraging. As we navigate the complexities of politics and faith, let's remember to keep our focus on love, unity, and what truly matters. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with your friends and family, and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more uplifting messages. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to reach out on our social media or leave us a review.

Greater Guild Announcer: 35:34

Until next time, keep embracing your inner nerd and sharing the love of God in everything you do.